Preparation and Properties of in situ Polymerized Poly(ethylene terephthalate)/Fumed Silica Nanocomposites

We have prepared poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) nanocomposites filled with two different types of fumed silicas, hydrophilic (FS) and hydrophobic (MFS) silicas of 7-nm diameter, by in situ polymerization. We then investigated the morphological changes, rheological properties, crystallization behavior, and mechanical properties of the PET nanocomposites. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images indicate that the dispersibility of the fumed silica was improved effectively by in situ polymerization; in particular, MFS had better dispersibility than FS on the non-polar PET polymer. The crystallization behavior of the nanocomposites revealed a peculiar tendency: all the fillers acted as retarding agents for the crystallization of the PET nanocomposites. The incorporation of fumed silicas increased the intrinsic viscosities (IV) of the PET matrix, and the strong particleparticle interactions of the filler led to an increased melt viscosity. Additionally, the mechanical properties, toughness, and modules of the nano-composites all increased, even at low filler content.